Save The Parish - Cornwall

Locked out Merrymeet villagers sing carols in rain... Bishop delivers his Christmas message from his armchair Villagers in Merrymeet, east Cornwall, braved rain and freezing temperatures to hold carols on a local drive this weekend after Truro's Bishops closed their church this autumn and changed the locks. As they sang in the cold and wet, the Bishop of Truro recorded an upbeat Christmas message from the comfort of his front room. Under a hastily-built shelter, villagers gathered around a sound system in a garage for their Christmas celebration - yards from the church which was closed in mid October and the locks changed despite strong local opposition. Last year, due to Covid, they sang carols outside the church. This year, they had hoped to be inside. This was not to be. "Even though the weather was far from ideal our carol service still went ahead and was well attended," said Residents' Association chairman Peter Luck. "Approximately 30 turned up to sing an...

Last Christmas villagers in Merrymeet, east Cornwall, gathered around their village church porch for joyous carol-singing – glad to be together after the Covid lockdowns, even if still outside. This year – no such luck. They’ll be gathering on the concrete driveway of one of the village’s 60 houses to try and raise Yuletide cheer. It was the same for last month’s Remembrance Sunday - they were reduced to standing in the road and decorating the church gates with poppies to honour local war dead. Why? Because Cornwall’s Bishops and Archdeacons shut the church in October and changed the locks so no-one could enter, whatever the reason. Menheniot’s media savvy priest in charge Rev Becca Bell, who oversees the historic Mission Church and five others in south east Cornwall, celebrated the last service on 9 October 2022. “ The weight of privilege and sadness and hope is huge ,” the self-described ‘wife, mum, film lover, gin drinker, knitter and miniatures enthusiast’ said on Twitter afterward...

 Besides news, this blog provides useful background. Here Save The Parish Cornwall's Peter Bellenes has gathered together key information for groups of people who are fighting the sale of church buildings.  These are factors that the residents of Merrymeet might to take into consideration: they are fighting the proposed sale of  their mission church, St Mary's.  At the end are some useful links with further information. Advantages – price positive Ø   -  Location i s all-important. If the church is situated where you would not be able to put a new build - as is St Mary's -  this will affect the price Ø   -  The space inside is large and can be converted into open space living whilst making the most of the original design Ø   - There is level pedestrian access to the main areas Ø   -  The shortage of suitable properties means prices are high. D  Disadvantages – price negative Ø    -  Need for new v...